[Peace-discuss] Fw: Health Care

[C. G. Estabrook]

But you certainly aren't suggesting that Obamacare is anything like the NHS, are 
you?  It's not.  See, e.g., Nader's remarks on Democracy Now! today.  --CGE


Jenifer Cartwright wrote:
> Fyi...
> 
> --- On *Fri, 8/14/09, David L.. Noreen /<d-noreen at illinois.edu>/* wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> The last couple of years I've spent a considerable amount of time working
> with Canadian Director Rupert Macnee on a proposed documentary that we'd like
> to do either later this year or possibly next year. Just this week he
> forwarded me an email from a British friend of his, Martin Smith, who'd
> become somewhat distressed over some of the American misrepresentations of
> the British National Health Service that had become part of the US national
> health care debate. In the interest of encouraging truthful debate on an
> issue that's vital to us all, I've enclosed that forwarded email from Martin
> Smith below.
> 
> - DLN
> 
> ------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Twitters & Health Care in the USA
> 
> Dear American Friends,
> 
> The reports over here about the health care debate in the States are 
> extremely depressing. Please send this, from today's London Guardian, to any
> of your friends who are wary of Obama's plans for health care in the USA.
> 
> And tell them, that they will still have the choice to buy all their health
> care privately if they want too - just like the Brits can.
> 
> All the best, Martin ---- How Twitterers came to the defence of the NHS
> 
> When US Republicans attacked the NHS this week, its supporters used Twitter
> to fight back
> 
> * Homa Khaleeli * The Guardian, Thursday 13 August 2009
> 
> After reports yesterday of the attacks made by US Republicans on the NHS,
> Twitter users grabbed their keyboards and mobiles to defend the health
> system. Critics in the US claimed that elderly people in the UK are left to
> die, and that the NHS put an "Orwellian" financial cap on the value on human
> life – in a bid to discredit Barack Obama's own healthcare reforms.
> Twitterers hit back, tweeting on the thread "#welovethenhs" to explain
> exactly why the NHS meant so much to them. Here are some examples:
> 
> @timlusher: The NHS is incredible in a medical emergency. They saved me when
> I had a brain abscess. It's worth every penny of our taxes. @bird42: Because
> they got me safely through two pregnancies, and the one that didn't work out.
>  @LizzieCharlton: When my dad died after 2 weeks in ICU in multiorgan failure
> we weren't made bankrupt by the cost of his care. @gailtwist: heartwarming
> stuff...saved my husband's, father's and son's lives within 6 months...great
> people. @will_tooke: Looking after grandad for free. @ceona: My birth control
> is free! Free! @dancourse: On a personal note, they really sorted me out when
> I ruined my toe attempting capoeira on a desk . . . Wouldn't want to lose it!
>  @zara_tweets: The NHS has its flaws but I dread to think how many loved ones
> I'd be missing without it. Makes me proud to be British. @KingOfAnkh: If it
> wasn't for the NHS, my two-year-old niece would have died without a liver
> transplant. She's now eight and doing well. @gullstory: US Republicans can
> lie all they like about the NHS but it's a great service for every Brit &
> we're proud of it. @ajjenkins: For all those doctors and nurses who work long
> hours to keep us well. @natguest: During my breakdown just two months ago my
> GPs were caring & compassionate and listened through my tears. @bitoclass:
> Because I'd rather my healthcare decisions were taken by someone interested
> in public health/value than in profits. @aaronrussell: Brought me into the
> world, removed that doll's eye I got stuck up my nose, fixed my collar bone,
> patched up my hernia (twice).
> 
> P.S. The NHS saved my life too... Martin